After sending Osborne away, Zhang Shaojie began to think deeply and thought that the future of laptops is also a very promising project.

Of course, the mainstream laptops of the future are all compatible machines for PC desktops, and laptops that are not compatible with PCs have no way out.

Zhang Shaojie said with a smile: "I am not optimistic about my future in this Oss company!" ”

Huang Tingjun agreed and said: "This guy always has the courage to make enemies, and his business is a mess. His laptop cost $2,000, but it was sold for $1,795. The more you sell, the more you lose. If there is no new venture capital, it is estimated that it will not last long! ”

"However, the market for laptops is very attractive!" Zhang Shaojie said with a smile.

"We're a software company, not a hardware company!" Huang Tingjun said.

Zhang Shaojie proposed: "We specialize in software, but we can use surplus funds to make venture capital and choose some promising compatible machine companies to become shareholders." In the future, if those companies succeed, we can get a huge investment report, and if they fail, it will only be a loss of a risk investment, and it will not drag down our own operation and development."

Regarding Zhang Shaojie's suggestion, Huang Tingjun finally agreed to limit the investment to the range of 2 million US dollars. Now, ORD makes about $1 million a month.

Two million dollars is just two months' profits, even if it is lost, it will not hurt the vitality of ORD company.

After that, Huang Tingjun began to conduct market research.

In the market research materials purchased by ORD company, there are more than a dozen companies that produce PC-compatible machines, including a company called Compaq, which makes Zhang Shaojie's eyes shine - this is it!

—————————— Compaq Computer was founded in September 1982 by Texas Instruments technician Rod Brown. Kenyon, Jimmy. Harris, Bill. Merton invested $1,000 each.

This company sees the market opportunities brought by IBM's open PC technology standards.

The three founders, the main R&D project, is the PC compatible machine. And the advent of Osborne's laptop also inspired them.

As a result, Compaq Computers has created Compaq laptops that are compatible with PC computers.

Although Compaq's laptop is an imitation of the Osborne computer. However, the hardware used in Compaq notebook computers is in accordance with the technical standards of PC-compatible computers, so it has gained the interest of many consumers.

In fact, most of the hardware and software of IBM's PCs are purchased from many manufacturers. The only thing that's kept secret is the BIOS program on the computer's motherboard.

However, Compaq's technicians directly cracked the BIOS of the PC. This allows Compaq to produce a wide range of PC-compatible machines in-house at any time.

Of course, competing directly with PC desktops is a thankless task. That's why Compaq chose to produce laptops that are compatible with PCs.

Since March '83, Compaq's first laptop has been on the market, and orders have been pouring in hundreds of units per month. As a result, Compaq quickly entered a profitable state.

The only problem, though, is the lack of funds for the expansion of production! What's more troublesome is that the patent rights of the BIOS program belong to IBM. Although IBM advertises the openness of the technical standards of the PC, if it wants to be licensed, it also has to pay for the price clearly.

BIOS program patents, clearly marked price - $1 million can be licensed!

If the patent cannot be granted in time, then if Compaq grows bigger in the future, it will face the risk of being sued by IBM

That's why Compaq needs financing!

Zhang Shaojie and Huang Tingjun jointly visited Compaq Computer Company and saw a working environment of dozens of square meters that was even more simple than a handicraft workshop.

The sign of Compaq computer hung crookedly at the door. The three founders of Compaq are all on the front line, producing and assembling laptops.

This difficult scenario of entrepreneurship exists in most IT companies. In the 70s~80s, including Apple, it also used the garage as a factory and gradually developed into an IT giant.

Compaq's production environment is only a garage of more than 20 square meters. The three founders did not receive salaries, but put limited funds into production. Only when Compaq is on the right track will they consider the issue of personal treatment or profit dividends.

"Mr. Zhang, Mr. Huang, I'm sorry, we are just a start-up company, and we are too busy to do so. So, when I received a call from you, I didn't take the time to pick you up! "Rhodes. Kenyon said apologetically.

In Rhodes. While Kenyon entertained the crowd, the other founders were still working like coolies, frantically.

They can earn more than $500 for each order they complete, and at their current assembly efficiency, they can assemble 10 laptops per person per day, which means they make $5,000 a day.

Although the profit is very good, for the time being, they still do not have the money to introduce more advanced equipment, carry out mass production, and do not have the money to buy BIOS patent licenses.

"It doesn't matter, because we're not here to enjoy your warm welcome or hospitality. Rather, we are optimistic about the future prospects of your company and want to venture into you! Zhang Shaojie said straight to the point.

Rod. Kenyon laughed, "You should see that we're making a profit every day!" ”

Zhang Shaojie said with a smile: "But you are producing illegally and are suspected of patent infringement!" ”

Rod. Kenyon said embarrassedly, "Really? The technical standards of PCs are open to the whole world, and compatible machines are not illegal! ”

Zhang Shaojie said: "BIOS is not free and open, but requires a threshold of $1 million to be authorized!" ”

"It only takes a year at most, and we can earn 1 million to be able to buy the patent license!" Rod. Kenyon said confidently.

Zhang Shaojie said: "I don't doubt this. However, although BM publishes technical standards to obtain support from IT vendors, these disclosed technologies are not free to use! You need to get the BIOS patent authorization as soon as possible, and the risk of being sued increases several times if you are late! ”

Rod. Kenyon shook his head and said, "Although we need 1 million to buy the patent license, we don't want to sell the company's equity at a low price!" If you think that just 1 million will control our company, then you are wrong! ”

Zhang Shaojie said: "How much equity can you transfer at most? ”

Rod. Kenyon said, "Less than 30 percent! Because, we need money, but we don't want to be controlled! ”

"Well, how about $2 million in Compaq in exchange for a 20% stake? This money has fully considered your development prospects for three years. Of course, there are similar compatible machine factories in the United States every day, which also contains a lot of risks," Zhang Shaojie said.

"$2 million for 20%?" Rod. Kenyon's heart was pounding.

"Well, 1 million for the purchase of related patent licenses, and another 1 million dollars for the rental of a new plant with a larger area, as well as the introduction of machinery and the expansion of production!" Zhang Shaojie said.

"I need to talk to the other partners"

"Okay, I'll wait for your news!"

Rod. Kenyon consulted with the other two collaborators and quickly made a decision—yes! $2 million in venture capital is what they urgently need right now! With this money, they will not only be able to remove the threat of being sued by IBM, but also be able to grow rapidly!

After ORD's shareholding, Compaq's equity ratio became Rhodes. Kenyon 27%, Jimmy. Harris 26.5%, Bill. Merton 26.5%, North American ORD 20%

After ORD controls Compaq, the computer products produced by Compaq will also be pre-installed with DOS, Office and other software.

DOS is licensed for free, while Office software is licensed for $10.

In this way, ORD's investment basically plays a role of killing two birds with one stone. The first is to lay out the field of computer production and share the huge profits brought by the development of the compatible machine market. The second is to pre-install DOS and Office through Compaq computers to consolidate the market share of the products produced by ORD companies.

"In the future, ORD will not be involved in the actual operation, but will only send you a financial officer to supervise your accounts. Of course, this financial officer received a salary from ORD and did not need to be paid by Compaq. Zhang Shaojie said, "In addition, ORD will establish a deeper strategic relationship with you in the future." I believe that we can form a huge complementary win-win relationship by cooperating with the software on the whole machine! ”

"I agree!"

"I agree!"

"Yes!"

There were three votes in favour and no objection.

The three founders of Compaq are very supportive of ORD's dispatch of financial personnel, after all, they themselves plan to formalize their operations, rather than have the mentality of making a fortune and leaving.

With ORD's investment in Compaq and the plan to send financial personnel, it went through.

Zhang Shaojie's advocacy of the strategy of entering the PC compatible machine market has been successfully launched.

In addition to being able to manufacture PC-compatible computers, Compaq is also an early manufacturer of PC-compatible laptops.

Waiting until September '83 when Osborne Computer Company went bankrupt, it would bring a huge short-term benefit to Compaq.

In the 80s ~ 90s, the golden development era of the IT industry is more conducive to the long-term development of Compaq. As long as Compaq's managers are not brain-dead or stupid, it is almost stress-free to develop into an IT company with a scale of more than $10 billion within 20 years.

(To be continued)